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Interesting map of the region around the Black and Caspian Sea, illustrating the travels of Anthony Jenkinson to Russia on behalf of the Russia or Muscovy Company in 1557. Jenkinson travelled to Moscow with instructions to seek passage through the Czar's domain in order to explore routes to Central Asia, Persia, and ultimately China. Jenkinson was granted a license to travel and received letters from the Czar addressed to foreign kings asking for Jenkinson's safe-conduct,. Thereafter, Jenkinson, a Tartar interpreter, and two other company employees, Richard and Robert Johnson, departed Moscow in April 1558. In Astrakhan they joined a group of local merchants, sailed across the Caspian and traveled east overland with the ultimate goal of reaching China. By December 1558 they had reached the famous Central Asian city of Bukhara, but were forced to turn back after learning that the routes beyond had been ravished by war.
Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733) was a Dutch mapmaker and publisher who printed pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and illustrated books, but is best known for his voluminous output of maps and atlases. Van der Aa was born to a German stonecutter from Holstein. Interestingly, all three van der Aa sons came to be involved in the printing business. Hildebrand was a copper engraver and Boudewyn was a printer.
